A recent photo shows construction progress on Archer’s high-volume manufacturing facility in Covington, Ga., adjacent to the Covington Municipal Airport (Photo: Business Wire)
The facility will support Archer’s planned production, with Stellantis, of up to 650 Midnight aircraft annually.
COVINGTON, Ga.—Archer Aviation Inc. provided an update at the end of July on the construction progress of its high-volume manufacturing facility in Covington, reaffirming an expected 2024 completion date, the company said in a release.
Archer is the designer and developer of Midnight, its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that is said to represent the potential for “a significant step change for aviation.” Built around Archer’s proprietary electric powertrain, Midnight is designed to offer passengers a sustainable, low-noise, and safe alternative to ground transportation.
Earlier this year, Archer completed the first build phase for the facility, including grading and foundation work. As of July 31, the company was nearing completion of phase two, the erection of the exterior walls and roof. Phase three (interior fit out) and phase four (equipment load-in and power on) are on track to be completed in the coming months, the company said in the release.
Once complete, the facility will measure nearly 400,000 square feet and is expected to support Archer’s planned production of up to 650 Midnight aircraft annually. That would make it one of the largest manufacturing facilities by volume in the aviation industry.
Archer’s buildout is taking place in close partnership with the automaker Stellantis, as the two companies continue to progress their plans to mass-produce Archer’s Midnight aircraft together.
“Thanks to the hard work of the Archer and Stellantis teams, we’re tracking towards completing this manufacturing facility by the end of the year,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Stellantis, in the release. “Once complete, we’ll focus on ramping production up to 650 aircraft a year—our goal is to be the first in the eVTOL industry to achieve scaled manufacturing.”
According to Archer, its Midnight aircraft is designed to travel at speeds up to 150 mph, turning hour-long ground commutes into minutes in the air. It is designed for back-to-back flights of 20-50 miles, with minimal charge time in between flights. Midnight is described as “100 times quieter than a helicopter at cruising altitudes,” making it “nearly inaudible from the streets below.” It can carry a pilot, up to four passengers, and carry-on luggage.
Midnight is also designed with “redundant systems across the aircraft, allowing Archer to target similar levels of safety as commercial liners,” the release stated.
In preparation for the facility’s completion, Archer showcased the Midnight aircraft at Atlantic Aviation’s new terminal at DeKalb–Peachtree Municipal Airport. Guests included government officials from Georgia’s Office of the Governor, Georgia’s Congressional Offices, the City of Atlanta, Georgia’s State Legislature, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other local governments.